F/A-18 Super Hornet

I was reading where a new engine for the Super Hornet was coming out topping off at 26,600 lbs of thrust so that's 53,200 lbs of thrust. I was wondering what the forum members thought of this extra power? I think it will help a little with the burst speed but to me it always comes down to pilot training when comparing modern fighter platforms. This thrust total is in the Eagle range but I think the Hornet got heavier overall still a good thing. I would like to see a slightly lighter non-reinforced carrier Hornet model produced with this engines but I guess that's not happening.

Boeing is seeking an international launch customer for a 20% higher thrust version of the General Electric F414 turbofan that powers the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

The F414 enhanced performance engine (EPE) includes an all new core and forward fan to dramatically increase the fighter's takeoff performance, said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president for F/A-18E/F.

The improvements would increase the F414 thrust rating from 22,000lbs to 26,600lbs. The baseline F414-GE-400, which also powers the Saab Gripen demonstration aircraft, is itself a 35% higher thrust version of the F404 and entered service with the Super Hornet fleet in 1998.

More recently, the US Navy, Boeing and GE have been developing durability improvements to reduce foreign object damage and specific fuel consumption, Gower told reporters participating in a Boeing media tour.

While the USN seeks a new engine core to make the F414 more durable, some international customers are interested in a new engine fan that enables higher thrust, Gower said.

Hi Sailor
They didn't release those figures yet but in time. I'll be honest it took me a little while to really like the Hornet and now Super Hornet but its an amazing platform. I have a PDF file on the engine really not much more information then in the link I attached. This platform has superior situational awareness period nothing touches its 2nd generation AESA radar. The new ARRAMS already being tested in New Mexico for months will give it even a long range missile once deployed. This platform is going forward and will for years to come.

well F-18 SH actually flies with the APG-79 V-3 which is actually the 3rd gen version of the apg-79. This latest version allows it to hit multiple moving targets using weapons like SDB and capture live video feed and distribute it to all assets in the battle field including soldiers on the ground, i have here another old document that shows just some of it extraordinary capabilities. not to mention it is the easiest aircraft to learn to fly, the new recruits usually take about 2 hours to completly learn how to fly the baby with confidence which leaves room for a lot of training in tactics and role playing. It is the only contender that can transfer fuel to all other assets mid air, play full scale awacs roles, network with uavs, ships, ground forces, contol towers, other aircraft, has excellent compatibility with our upcoming P-8I and Phalcon, due to its AESA and network distribution, it can give a clear AESA picture to all the other aircraft in the area which allows the other aircraft to turn off radars and perform passive attacks, thus reducing the risk of others being shot down. All these right now and none of the contenders have this ability as of now and hence are pretty useless. SH is also amazing considering that it has no TVC and yet has unlimited AOA. It smooths in and out of loops and rolls, has incredible, yaw, nose and pitch authority and unlike the others is also less physically demanding to fly giving pilots more energy and stamina in evasive and agressive maneuvers. Pilots love it and with the 20% increase in thrust per engine means the current 98KN will reach 118 KN+ that 20KN per engine more and 40 KN in total. This will automatically make it a lot more agile.

well i have seen the SH, Rafale and EF in airshows and SH is honestly the most impressive and the way it effortlessly pulls all maneuvers and with incredible smoothness is magic. Rafale and EF are fast, agile and agressive and seem very violent during maneuvers and i feel sorry for the pilot coz i assure you those instantenous high G turns hurt and to keep it up during combat can be deadly. during a recent visit to a ESA in Belgium i jumped into a centrifuge and could withstand upto 7Gs before i passed out and trust me guys it hurts real bad even with a G-suit. i think our pilots will have a better chance in an SH simply because it glides in and out of maneuvers, its like graceful dance when the SH flies and considering it has no TVC its absolute magic. none of the other contenders can match its current abilities.

F/A-18 Hornet was a all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the United States Navy and Marine Corps

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a distinct, evolutionary upgrade to the F/A-18 designed to serve a complementary role with Hornets in the U.S. Navy the Hornet can be traced back to the YF-17 Cobra which lost out to the YF -16 in the LWF project of the USAF the The F/A-18 and superhornet are twin engine, mid-wing, multi-mission tactical aircrafts.
The Super Hornet is about 20% larger, 7,000 lb (3,000 kg) heavier empty, and 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) heavier at maximum weight than the original Hornet. The Super Hornet carries 33% more internal fuel increasing mission range by 41% and endurance by 50% over the "Legacy" Hornet. The empty weight of the Super Hornet is about 11,000 lb (5,000 kg) less than that of the F-14 Tomcat that it replaced, while approaching, but not matching the payload / range of the larger plane

Boeing the makers of the F-18 super hornet has made plans for anew project the global super hornet which will be much more advanced and upto-- date with present competitors like rafale and typhoon the interesting part is that boeing needs funding for the project as it will not be funded by the US it will be funded and developed by jointly with other nations
boeing has invited brazil , korea ,and japan for the same
has not yet been offered to india but as things stand soon you will find them asking india to join in too
what do you thin should india join in ? with future FGFA development this global joint venture can make india the great leap in manufacturing that it seeks and with boeing's export potential it should be a major money spinner

GOLDEN oppurtunities must be grabed with both hands as they are also willing to let the parter countries use their own develoment skills and incorporate them in the project its not like boeing develops and you pay it like lets jointly develop something new and advanced.
its will be boeing-ada/hal global super hornet something interesting ....

P2Prada has correctly mentioned the biggest problem. That airframe has been stretched to its limits in the E/F variants. Apart from domestic avionics, maybe RAM coating, there isn't much that can make it better than the F-18E.
Secondly, once the MRCA is done with, our primary focus would be stealth.

Boeing announced on 23 September 2010 that it has completed production of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet that has the capability to be converted into an electronic attack aircraft.

Boeing is pre-wiring the RAAFâ€™s second lot of 12 Super Hornets for potential electronic attack capability conversion during production at the companyâ€™s facilities in St. Louis.

â€œIncorporating the ability to introduce an electronic attack capability on 12 RAAF Super Hornets as they are produced in St. Louis provides maximum flexibility for our Air Force in the future,â€ said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing, which includes Super Hornet and F-111 aircraft. â€œUltimately, if a decision to incorporate an electronic attack option is pursued, it will further expand the broad capability of an already formidable Super Hornet weapon system.â€

The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the advanced Block II versions of the Super Hornet, all of which are equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Eleven Super Hornets are now operating at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. All 11 aircraft were delivered ahead of schedule and on budget. Boeing will deliver Australiaâ€™s 24th Super Hornet in 2011.

â€œBesides giving the RAAF the potential of introducing electronic attack capability in the future, producing these 12 aircraft with this configuration from the outset also reduces cost when compared with retrofitting at a later date,â€ said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 430 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget.

This is the fourth batch of Super Hornets the RAAF has received, bringing the current Australian fleet to eighteen.

A further six aircraft will be delivered by the end of the year.

â€œThe Super Hornet is built by Boeing at its production line in St Louis, Missouri. It has been flown by the US Navy since 2001,â€ Mr Clare said.

â€œThe Super Hornet gives the Royal Australian Air Force the capability to conduct air-to-air combat; to strike targets on land and at sea; to suppress enemy air defences; and to conduct reconnaissance.â€

The first 15 Super Hornets became operational on 8 December last year, following the retirement of the iconic F-111.

â€œThe Super Hornets have been delivered on budget and ahead of schedule because of the teamwork of the manufacturer Boeing, the United States Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Defence Materiel Organisation,â€ Mr Clare said.

â€œItâ€™s a great example of Defence, Government and Industry working together to deliver results.â€

The Super Hornets will ensure Australiaâ€™s air combat capability is maintained until the full introduction into service of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Another three F/A-18F Super Hornets have joined the Air Force's fleet having touched down at RAAF Amberley in Queensland on 14 July. The latest arrival of Rhinos brings the Australian fleet to 18 with the remaining aircraft to be delivered by the end of the year. The fleet of Super Hornets reached Initial Operational Capability on 8 December following the retirement of the iconic F-111 last year. The Super Hornet transition project remains on budget and on time, with the fleet making a tremendous addition to the Air Forceâ€™s air combat capability. The combined efforts of the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Material Organisation, United States Navy, Boeing and the Hornet Industry team have contributed to achieving this result. The Super Hornet is a highly capable, battle proven, multi-role aircraft that has already proved its effectiveness in service with the US Navy. Its flexibility will enhance Australiaâ€™s air combat capability, through maritime and land strike, suppression of enemy air defence, reconnaissance, air-to-air combat and close air support. The Super Hornets will ensure Australiaâ€™s air combat capability is maintained until the full introduction into service of the Joint Strike Fighter.